Corolla Quest: The Ultimate Motoring Appliance

Everybody knows someone with a Toyota Corolla. My conservative uncle John comes to mind. He swore by the reliability of his blue, box-shaped 1300 model from the ’80s. He graduated to the then-new version in 2000 and managed to clock 400 000 trouble-free kilometres before recently succumbing to the ownership of some new, nondescript crossover.

John fitted the Corolla profile brilliantly. Much like the car, he is a dependable character — a church deacon and IT maestro who takes assurance in the predictability of JavaScript. Last week we sampled the new, budget Corolla Quest. And while it may have a fleet-car image, you cannot help but take delight in its honest and unpretentious nature.

The Quest is a reassuring, unwavering fixture in a world where people are fickle and circumstances change without warning. There is little doubt that if you bought one, it would run seamlessly into the next decade. And beyond. My mate, a hip digital marketer named Molefi Moloantoa, summed it up best when I fetched him from work. ‘‘It’s as bland as Jungle Oats, but everybody respects a Corolla,’’ he said.

As you may have noticed, the Quest is a rehash of the previous generation Corolla. Our market is no stranger to this practice. You will certainly remember reheated models like the Conquest Tazz and Volkswagen Citi Golf. Thankfully, this does not feel as archaic as those offerings. The Quest has all the essential amenities expected from a car in 2014. The range-topping Plus model we tested has electric windows all round, USB and auxiliary ports and air conditioning, in addition to front passenger and driver airbags, as well as passive safety features like anti-lock brakes. But the inclusion of cruise control and steering-mounted audio controls would have sweetened the deal further. I mean, those features are standard on a Renault Sandero these days.

Having tested the latest generation Corolla extensively, I was expecting the Quest to pale in comparison. But its quietness and comfort levels were surprising. Sure, it will not set your pulse racing. But nor will it increase your blood pressure. In traffic and on the freeway, the Quest is a soothing companion. In the styling department, Toyota sought to set it apart with tweaks to the visage, darker tail-lamps and new alloy wheels. Face the fact that you’ll never stand out in a crowd, but you won’t garner unwanted attention either. It’s the perfect chariot for those seeking anonymity.

Power comes from the same 1.6-litre engine that does duty in the current generation Corolla. And it is adequate for this application. Even when you drive with a bit of roughness, the Quest complies with commendable pace. It settles happily at the national limit and shifting through its six-speed manual transmission is a light and direct affair.

So the Quest makes a strong case for itself, especially when you consider the price. Things start off at R174 900 for the base model, which lacks an audio system and alloy wheels. The top-tier Plus automatic is still priced below the R200 000 barrier. Nothing else in the new car ambit offers such space for the same cost. It is totally honest about its role as an affordable, roomy and dependable daily commuter. It is the archetypal motoring appliance. And it wears that label proudly.

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-Brenwin Naidu